Portland bankruptcy brings building delays, St. Jude prayers

Published: 2004-08-24

PORTLAND, Ore. (CNS) -- Father Thomas D. Yurchak, pastor of St. Jude Parish in Eugene, has been giving his parishioners copies of a prayer to their patron saint. He says St. Jude, the saint of desperate situations, will help work things out. St. Jude Parish has had to put a church expansion project on hold because of the recent bankruptcy filing by the Archdiocese of Portland. "When this clears up a little, we'll reconsider what we will do," the priest said. "But I am confident that with the help of St. Jude we will get this project done." The suspended plans call for an extension to the church, a new baptismal font, a reconciliation room and a small chapel for adoring the Eucharist. When Portland Archbishop John G. Vlazny filed for bankruptcy protection July 6 to help pay more sex abuse lawsuits and keep the archdiocese afloat, all major expenditures and property moves had to be postponed. The federal bankruptcy court now monitors the archdiocese's finances.

Copyright (c) 2004 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .